Development

The development of a self-storage facility generally begins with a comprehensive market analysis of the proposed project area. New owners and/or developers will usually hire a third-party specialist to conduct a detailed feasibility study, which will identify market demographics and other key metrics to determine the viability of self-storage in a particular location. Once a site is chosen, an engineer and architect are hired to design a self-storage facility that will maximize the investment in the land, including the site layout and unit mix. The developer, builder and/or owner may need to meet with local residents and the planning and zoning board to discuss the community impact of the project and the aesthetics of the individual buildings, including landscaping, building height, door color, etc. Owners might consider a multi-story building to maximize their footprint, or converting a building from another use to self-storage to widen their options.

Real Estate developers Brexton LLC and Edwards Cos. have proposed a six-story self-storage development for the corner of Long and Young streets in Columbus, Ohio. TriVillage Downtown Storage would comprise about 750 units and offer climate control and wine storage, ...More

Inside Self-Storage (ISS) has released a slideshow focusing on some of the common mistakes owners and developers make when building a self-storage project. “Self-Storage Building Blunders: Common Development and Construction Mistakes to Avoid” offers insight and ...More

Geoffrey Smith, owner of G. J. Smith Inc., a landscaping company in Nantucket, Mass., has proposed to build an 18,500-square-foot self-storage facility off Greglen Avenue. Turnkey Storage would be the first major commercial development built on a 70-acre property owned by ...More

Investing in and building a self-storage project is an expensive and time-consuming endeavor, so it’s critical developers anticipate and minimize as many problems as possible to keep timelines moving forward and the project on budget. ...More

Real estate developer Tom Head has submitted a proposal to convert a Boca Raton, Fla., warehouse into a self-storage facility, but the city is considering height restrictions that could delay the project. A principal with Mission Bay Self Storage in West Boca, Fla., Head ...More

Indiana self-storage operator Access Storage Now is building a new facility in Newburgh, Ind. The property at 3644 State Route 261 will encompass 72,000 square feet of storage space in 178 units. Slated to open in the spring, it will include traditional and ...More

A self-storage development proposed for the site of a dilapidated building in Jackson, Miss., faces zoning restrictions and opposition from former Jackson Mayor Kane Ditto and former Mississippi Gov. William Winter. Developer Craig Smith wants to buy the empty building next ...More

Self-Storage developer Scott Johnson and Laramie County, Wyo., planners are at odds over a storage facility Johnson wants to build on a 2-acre parcel on Southwest Drive near Cheyenne. While Johnson received a planned urban development (PUD) agreement with the county to ...More

Self-storage developer Mark Phillips is waiting on a decision from the Dover, N.H., Planning Board to determine if he will be allowed to build a barn-themed facility on a challenging, 32-acre parcel at 385 Sixth St. The Storage Barn LLC would be constructed in three or four ...More

Representatives of CubeSmart, a self-storage real estate investment trust (REIT), offered the West Roxbury Neighborhood Council an update last week on its proposed conversion project in West Roxbury, Mass. The project would involve converting the existing warehouse at 99 ...More